Fantasy Stockings is a Canadian hosiery shop with a wide selection of pantyhose, stay up stockings, hold ups, garter belts, leggings, knee high socks, trouser socks, and other nylon legwear.
We are based in Calgary, but have representation in Vancouver and Toronto too. Domestic shipping for Canada and United States. Discreet service available.

What is this small hole (keyhole) for in the welt of the vintage backseam stockings?

Answer by StockingsHQ on twitter:

“That’s the finishing loop and it is needed so the needle doing the seam can be withdrawn. It’s the mark of a genuine fully fashioned stocking as opposed to something with just a cosmetic seam.”

Real 100% nylon stockings with a keyhole in the welt – exactly the way it was in the past when ladies would stand in lines for hours to buy some. There are only a few factories in the world that are capable of producing such vintage-like hosiery.

The thought of fully fashioned stockings and suspender belt. makes me a little bit nostalgic because there is not much of this around. Valentine’s or your own wedding… that’s when women might give it a try.

The only pattern to successfully outlive all turbulence in history of women’s hosiery, without losing its popularity, is the backseam. Sexual, not vulgar, it decorates legs like an exclamation mark, immediately attracting attention.

It even looks like some brands, like Gio or Cervin, carved out a special niche of customers who appreciate the traditional design of a fully-fashioned stocking.

Cosmetic backseam (just a straight line at the back) is relatively not hard to find if you live in a big city with plenty of department stores. But fully-fashioned stockings are a different story.

I personally have never seen fully-fashioned stockings for sale in any retail location. If it wouldn’t be for online hosiery stores, I would probably have no chance of getting my hands on one of those at all.